Travel

Pride festivals across Canada

Travel

Pride festivals across Canada

Pride is all about being who you are and loving who you’re with. After the Orlando massacre that happened at a gay nightclub earlier this month, the message of Pride is at the forefront of our attention more so than ever before. Take a look at how Canadians across the country are planning to celebrate.

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Pride festivals across Canada

Toronto, Ontario

In Toronto, the whole month of June—plus a few days in July—is dedicated to Pride. The Pride Month includes countless events and celebrity guest appearances, which, this year, include George Takei, Margaret Atwood and Joe Jonas. During the final three days—July 1, 2 and 3—the streets of Toronto are taken over by the Trans March, Dyke March and Pride Parade, respectively. This year, Justin Trudeau is set to be the first prime minister ever to march in the Pride Parade.

By: Kaitlin Jingco
Source: Joseph Morris flickr

Pride festivals across Canada

St. John, Newfoundland

On July 11, the Opening Gala of the St. John’s Pride Week kicks off the week of fun. This year’s theme “Stronger Together” will see the city’s community gathering for events such as a bonfire, the Trans Picnic, an interfaith event and the Pride Parade, to name a few things.

By: Kaitlin Jingco
Source: stjohnspride Instagram

Pride festivals across Canada

Ottawa, Ontario

The Ottawa Capital Pride Festival takes place mid-August, from August 15 to August 21. The week begins with the Pride flag being raised at City Hall, and the week ends with a parade and community fair. This year’s festival will include Ottawa’s first ever QueerCon—a comic convention featuring all queer content!

By: Kaitlin Jingco
Source: scottdallen Instagram

Pride festivals across Canada

Montreal, Quebec

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Montreal Pride, also known as Fierté Pride. The week, which is being held on August 8 until August 14, will keep the notorious rainbow theme, but it will also put an emphasis on the colour green to represent nature and the diversity of the LGBTQ community. There will be over 125 Pride events, including the very popular Pride Parade on the final day.

By: Kaitlin Jingco
Source: cdolivei flickr

Pride festivals across Canada

Calgary, Alberta

This year, Calgarians end off their summer with the 26th annual Pride Festival. The celebrations start off with the Pride Slide party on August 27, where partygoers can enjoy music, drag queens, dancing and rides down a waterslide! The festivities end on September 4 with the family-friendly Pride Parade—which sees about 60,000 spectators—and party at the Shaw Millennium Park.

By: Kaitlin Jingco
Source: www.calgarypride.ca

Pride festivals across Canada

Fredericton, New Brunswick

If you’re in New Brunswick between August 7 and August 15, you’re going to want to make your way over to Fredericton for their bumping Pride Festival. Following the Flag Raising Ceremony on the first day, a flash mob is expected to break out to amp up excitement for the upcoming week. Other things that you can look forward to include a parade, a queer and sober meeting and the finale of a drag queen competition, So You Think You Can Drag.

By: Kaitlin Jingco
Source: capitalcityrollers Instagram

Pride festivals across Canada

Victoria, British Columbia

The Victoria Pride Society will be hosting Victoria Pride from July 1 to July 10. The 10-day event includes events such as the Drag Baseball Game, the Big Gay Dog Walk, the Pride Boat Cruise and the Pride Parade. The celebrations end with a huge festival, which sees thousands of people every year.

By: Kaitlin Jingco
Source: victoriapridesociety.org

Pride festivals across Canada

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

From August 5 to August 7, Yellowknife is hosting their fifth annual Pride Festival. On top of music, a family barbecue and a musical called “Queerlesque,” the weekend-long event has educational and advocacy workshops for people of all ages.

By: Kaitlin Jingco
Source: nwtpride Instagram

Pride festivals across Canada

Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Halifax Pride Festival is one of the best in Canada—over 150,000 people join in on the 10 days of fun. This year’s festival, which will take place from July 14 to July 24, includes a huge lineup of diverse activities. Some of the unique events include Drag Queen Bingo, a lip sync battle, the Strip Spelling Bee and numerous dance parties. The final annual parade will be held on July 23, and the Pride Family Picnic and Wind Down Party are held on the 24.

By: Kaitlin Jingco
Source: halifaxpride Instagram

Pride festivals across Canada

Vancouver, British Columbia

This year’s Vancouver Pride season’s theme is “Better Together.” Isolation is often an issue for people in the LGBTQ community, so this year’s theme is all about combatting that problem by banding together. Those in Vancouver during the last week of July can support this theme and the LGBTQ community by attending the many Pride events, including the Pride Parade on the 31st, which ends in a huge party on the waterfront.